From Reykjavik: Whale Watching Tour by Speedboat

The boat ride is half the adventure. This two-hour trip from Reykjavik combines a fast RIB ride with wildlife watching in Faxaflói Bay, where you may spot humpback and minke whales, dolphins, seals, porpoises, and puffins. I like the close-to-the-water view and the small 12-seat boat, which feels more personal than a large sightseeing vessel.

I also like the thoughtful cold-weather gear: a warm waterproof overall, gloves, goggles, life jacket, and a souvenir scarf. The main drawback is the rough ride. On a windy day, the RIB can bounce hard over the waves, so this is not the best choice if you want a calm, slow cruise or are uneasy on fast boats.

Key points at a glance

• A 12-seat RIB makes the ride lively: Suspension seats improve comfort, but the boat can still feel bumpy in wind and waves.
• Faxaflói Bay offers varied wildlife: Possible sightings include up to 23 whale species, dolphins, seals, harbour porpoises, and several seabirds.
• Puffin islands are part of the route: The boat approaches nesting areas where puffins may be seen on cliffs, beaches, in the water, and in flight.
• Reykjavik sights begin the outing: You pass Harpa Concert Hall and the Sun Voyager sculpture soon after leaving the old harbor.
• The clothing matters in Iceland: Waterproof outerwear, gloves, goggles, and a life jacket are supplied, but you should still wear warm clothes and closed shoes.
• Wildlife is never guaranteed: The crew searches hard, but whales are wild animals and are less predictable than animals in an oceanarium.

Leaving Reykjavik’s old harbor

The meeting point is at Ægisgarður 5G, about a five-minute walk from central Reykjavik. That makes this an easy addition to a city day, especially if you are staying near the harbor or want to reach the departure point without arranging transport.

Before boarding, you receive a warm waterproof overall, gloves, goggles, and a life jacket. A scarf is also provided for you to keep. This equipment is not just a nice extra. Faxaflói Bay can feel much colder than Reykjavik’s streets, especially when a fast boat creates its own wind.

Wear warm layers underneath. You also need proper closed shoes. Sandals and flip-flops are not allowed, and open-toed shoes are a poor match for a wet, windy boat deck anyway.

The RIB carries 12 passengers and has suspension seats designed to soften the motion. That small capacity is one of the best reasons to choose this trip. You are not looking over a large crowd, and the guide can give information directly while the boat is searching for wildlife.

Harpa and Sun Voyager from the water

The first part of the trip gives you a fresh view of Reykjavik. As the boat leaves the harbor, you pass Harpa Concert Hall, the glass-fronted cultural center on the waterfront, and the Sun Voyager sculpture, whose steel curves resemble a Viking ship.

These sights are familiar from land, but the water changes the angle. You see the city edge, harbor, and shoreline as one scene rather than as separate stops. The view is brief, so do not treat it as a formal city tour. It is a pleasant opening before the boat heads farther into the bay.

The guide provides information about the city as well as whales and wildlife. That is useful if this is your first day in Reykjavik, though the main purpose remains the search for animals, not a detailed architectural tour.

The RIB ride across Faxaflói Bay

Once the boat reaches open water, the trip becomes much more active. The RIB can move quickly across the waves, make fast turns, and bring you closer to the water than a larger boat would.

I would choose this format for the sense of motion as much as for the wildlife. Several people describe the RIB ride itself as a highlight, with the boat racing over waves and making entertaining turns near the end. It gives the outing a clear adventure element instead of feeling like two hours of sitting and waiting.

The tradeoff is comfort. Wind direction and wave height matter. On a calm day, the ride may feel exciting and manageable. On a windy day, it can be rough, with plenty of bouncing. The suspension seats help, but they do not turn a speedboat into a smooth ferry.

If you are prone to motion sickness, worried about your back, or simply prefer a quiet cruise, think carefully before booking. If you enjoy active boat trips and can handle a bumpy ride, the RIB adds real value to the experience.

Searching for whales in the bay

Faxaflói Bay is the main wildlife area, and the crew searches for whales in their natural environment. The possible list is impressive: up to 23 species of whales may be found in the wider area, along with dolphins, seals, and seabirds.

The most frequently celebrated sightings on this trip include humpback whales and minke whales. A humpback may appear as a broad back or a sudden breath at the surface. One particularly memorable type of sighting is a whale coming up to breathe while the boat waits nearby, rather than a dramatic full leap.

That distinction matters. Whale watching is often about patience and small signs: a blow, a curved back, or a fin appearing and vanishing. You may see only part of the animal. The experience is rewarding because the creature is wild, not because it performs on cue.

A guide and boat navigator work together to search and follow sightings respectfully. Good timing can make a major difference. One outing produced a humpback, white-beaked dolphins, and later a closer look at another humpback. Another included minke whales and dolphins. A separate trip had the rare sight of a large pod of pilot whales, along with harbour porpoises and dolphins.

Those possibilities show both the appeal and the uncertainty. You could see several kinds of animals, but you cannot count on a specific whale species or even a whale at all. The operator clearly states that sightings are not guaranteed, and that is an important part of honest planning.

Dolphins can steal the show

Dolphins are often easier to enjoy from a moving RIB because they may approach the boat. Several outings had white-beaked dolphins swimming close by, circling under the boat, and appearing repeatedly beside it.

A pod following the RIB can turn a quiet search into an active show. You might see dolphins surface, disappear, and reappear from another angle before you have time to point your camera. The guide can help you watch for movement and explain what you are seeing.

I would keep your camera ready, but do not spend the whole trip looking at a screen. The boat moves quickly, wildlife appears without warning, and a wet lens or gloved hands make photography tricky. Your best memory may be the moment you look over the side and find a dolphin already there.

Puffin islands and seabird watching

The boat also approaches islands in Faxaflói Bay where puffins nest and lay one egg. This part adds variety to the outing and gives you something to watch even when whales are not nearby.

Puffins may be seen standing on cliffs or beach areas, swimming, or flying low over the water. They are small birds, so the RIB’s ability to approach the islands helps. You may see several at once, particularly around nesting areas, though the exact number and distance will depend on conditions.

The puffin portion is especially appealing in the nesting season, when the birds are active around the islands. It also gives the guide a chance to explain how the birds use these coastal sites. Do not expect a long landing or walk on an island. This is a boat-based viewing stop, with the RIB moving close to the nesting areas before continuing.

Seabirds are part of the wider picture, too. The bay can produce sightings of various species, so keep watching even when the crew is focused on whales. A seabird skimming the water or a puffin bobbing beside the boat can make the trip feel full of life.

The guides and the human side of the tour

The crew’s role is more than pointing toward animals. The guide explains whale behavior, local wildlife, and city sights, and answers questions during the trip. That personal contact matters on a small boat, where you can ask about a blow, a fin, or an unfamiliar bird while the sighting is still fresh.

The company has also been praised for friendly service and serious attention to safety. Earlier trips were described as having a warm father-and-son team, but guide names are not provided for this current experience, so I would not book expecting a particular person.

The best guide will help you understand what you are seeing without turning the outing into a lecture. You want clear instructions, useful facts, and a crew that respects the animals. The available feedback points to that balance, with repeated praise for the friendly, helpful approach and strong safety briefing.

Safety gear and comfort in Icelandic weather

Icelandic weather can change quickly. The tour supplies a waterproof overall, gloves, goggles, and life jacket rental, but you still need warm clothing beneath the suit.

The goggles are useful when the boat picks up speed. Spray and wind can make it hard to keep your eyes open, especially during fast sections. The waterproof suit should help keep you dry, but it does not remove the need for warm socks and sensible layers.

Closed shoes are required. Choose footwear that stays secure on your feet and works with the supplied gear. Flip-flops and sandals are not allowed.

The 12 suspension seats are a strong comfort feature, but be realistic about what they can do. They reduce some of the shock from the ride, yet open-water speedboats still move with the sea. I would avoid booking this as a gentle sightseeing cruise.

Children under 10 cannot join. For older children, the key question is not just age, but comfort with speed, spray, cold, and a rough ride. The operator’s age limit removes younger children from the equation, but adults still need to judge their own fitness and comfort.

What $192 means in practical value

At $192 per person, this is not the cheapest way to spend two hours in Reykjavik. The price makes more sense if you value three elements together: a small luxury RIB, supplied cold-weather equipment, and guided wildlife watching.

A standard boat trip may give you more room and a smoother ride. This experience charges a premium for speed, a 12-seat setting, and a closer-to-the-water feel. The boat itself is part of the attraction, not just transport to the whale area.

The value is strongest when you see several kinds of wildlife, such as a humpback, dolphins, puffins, and seabirds in one outing. It is still possible to have a worthwhile trip with fewer sightings because the RIB ride, city views, and guide commentary remain part of the package. Still, you should not view the price as a guarantee of whales.

The operator allows cancellation up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund and offers a reserve-now, pay-later option. Those terms are useful when Iceland’s weather can disrupt plans, though you should still check the available departure time before committing your schedule.

Who should book the speedboat tour?

I would recommend this tour to adults and children aged 10 or older who want an active outing. It suits you if you enjoy fast boat rides, do not mind cold conditions, and like the idea of combining wildlife with a little adrenaline.

It is also a good fit if you have limited time in Reykjavik. In two hours, you can see the waterfront from the water, search Faxaflói Bay, approach puffin islands, and return to the harbor without giving up a full day.

I would be more cautious if your main goal is guaranteed whale watching. Nature does not work that way, and the operator is clear about it. You should also think twice if you want a smooth ride, dislike wind, or find open-water motion uncomfortable.

Should you book Katla Whale Watching?

Book this Reykjavik whale watching speedboat tour if the RIB ride sounds as appealing as the animals. The combination of a small 12-seat boat, warm protective gear, close puffin viewing, and the chance of dolphins or humpback whales gives the experience a strong sense of occasion.

Skip it if you want a quiet cruise or need certainty about seeing whales. For the right person, the boat ride alone can justify much of the cost. The wildlife is the bonus, and on a good day, a humpback surfacing beside a lively pod of dolphins can make the $192 feel well spent.

FAQ

Where does the whale watching speedboat tour meet?

You meet at Ægisgarður 5G in Reykjavik’s old harbor. The meeting point is about a five-minute walk from the city center.

How long is the tour?

The cruise lasts two hours, including the departure from Reykjavik harbor, wildlife search in Faxaflói Bay, puffin island viewing, and the return journey.

What animals might I see?

Possible sightings include whales, dolphins, seals, harbour porpoises, puffins, and other seabirds. Up to 23 whale species may be found in Faxaflói Bay, but sightings are not guaranteed.

Can I see puffins on this tour?

Yes. The boat sails close to islands in Faxaflói Bay where puffins nest and lay one egg. You may see them on cliffs, beach areas, in the water, or flying nearby.

What clothing and safety equipment are provided?

The tour provides a warm waterproof overall, gloves, goggles, and a life jacket for rental. You should still wear warm clothes and closed shoes.

Are sandals or flip-flops allowed?

No. Sandals, flip-flops, and open-toed shoes are not allowed. Wear secure, closed footwear.

Is the tour suitable for young children?

No. The tour is not suitable for children under 10 years old.

What languages are available?

The live guide provides the tour in English and Icelandic. The guide gives information about whales, wildlife, and Reykjavik.